What to do about Bucking

Question

I recently started working with a great horse named Rascal. he's green but not to green, hes fallen into some bad habits. He's started bucking when people ask him to canter. Last time I rode him I was bucked off twice. I know that I'm supposed to lean back, and pull his head up. When I do that he quits, however in a couple more strides he slides to a dead stop and lowers his head. I fell off both times he did it. The next time he tried it a kicked him when he stopped. He picked up the canter again and did fine. However hes a smart horse, and now hes trying to find other ways to get me off, while not actually doing anything that I can get after him for. Is there something else I could try that might help this situation. I don't own him or anything, but his owner is a collage student who can't ride him as much as she'd like, I've been working with him everyday for the past two weeks. he hasn't improved any. Before his owner went to school she also rode him everyday. He's just not responding to our strategy. I would hate to see him go to waste because he really is a fantastic horse when he's not cantering. he jumps 2'6 at a trot.

Answer 1

I would deff. check all of your tack (making sure everything is fitting properly and not pinching him. Also check his teeth, they may need floated and he is simply in pain (does he show discomfort or any other irritation at the other gaits or is it just in the canter transitions? Usually a problem can be traced back to the previous gait)

Also keep in mind if you keep him moving forward when he starts bucking, its harder for him to buck. If he simply doesnt want to work, you may be giving him his way by stopping him each time.

Answer 2

http://www.icelandichorse.is/buck.html

This is a really good site and it should help you! :]

♥Can't Stop Riding♥

Answer 3

There are so many thinks it could be that you might have to ask a veterinarian. The owner might being mean to it since she canters with her horse. She could be yelling at it because it's not doing the canter correctly. So then, when you ride it will think your his owner and he wants to buck you off because you were being mean. That's one reason. Do you know the owner personally?? Do you think she's mean??? If so then ask her what is she doing to the horse.

Answer 4

i would try a different saddle? see if the one your using fits him... that happened with me... my horse would buck me off whenever we'd right lead canter and i couldnt figure it out until i learned my saddle pinched when she moved a certain way...

hope it helps!

Answer 5

2'6 at a trot :O oh my lord. yank him in the mouth hard. if you do manage to get his head up, to a very tight circle, like nose to butt circle repeatedly. he can't do anything in that position because his back legs are crossing, not because his neck is so tight as someone else said earlier. keeping a tighter rein all the time. if not run him into the fence. since he's green you might want to trot him a good 30-minutes before you start cantering. or trot a while and lunge him at the canter. if its comes to be too much bucking/crowhopping. go borrow a western saddle and some spurs and ride it out of him.

Answer 6

make sure your bit is right for him and like someone else said that the saddle fits. and take it to a trainer :]] my horses are in full time training even though they are alredy almost perfect. always room for a trainer! or just take lessons with a really really good hunter/jumper trainer or something along those lines.

Answer 7

Well i used to have the same problem.

first of all use light spurs to remind him that your still in charge

and keep him in line.

second when he starts bucking and u pull his head up make sherr he doesnt break his gate. or he will think"Oh wen i buck i can stop cantering so i should do it everytime she askes"

If your still having a lot of problems.

then put him on a longe line or in a round pen.

and wear him out make sherr he canters most of time and dont give him any breaks.

When he is worn out then ride him and try again.

he wont have the energy to buck and soon he will learn

not too.

Lastly, horses respond to pain. so

if he bucks give him a smack on the but with

a crop(not too hard but enough to make him listen)

he will think "if i buck there is pain to expect and i dont like it."

well hope one of these things work for you.

Answer 8

When ever he bucks get is head up and pull him into a tight circle and use a crop and smack his butt.  He can't buck because you have his head pulled back and tight..  This is what I did when my horse would buck running home from barrels